PSX reports veteran ILB Tim Dobbins was considered far more than a throw-in piece to Miami's draft-day trade with San Diego that moved the Dolphins down from the No. 12 overall spot to No. 27, where they drafted Penn State DE Jared Odrick. Dobbins, a fifth-year linebacker out of Iowa State who mostly backed up in San Diego, is pushing ILB Channing Crowder (foot) for some of his snaps.

Crowder, who is recovering from foot surgery, has yet to become a game-changing player like his Pro Bowl predecessor MLB Zach Thomas. Crowder has just 2.5 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles in five seasons. Dobbins had a sack, an interception and a forced fumble in just two starts last season, along with 55 tackles in 14 games.

The Dolphins, recognizing Dobbins' ceiling, cut serviceable veteran ILB Reggie Torbor and gave Dobbins a two-year contract extension that includes more than $3 million in guaranteed money. "Tim is a good football player," new Dolphins linebackers coach Bill Sheridan said. "When we got him in the draft weekend, we pulled up some film just to refresh our memories about him.

He's really an instinctive player and he's a football player. He's physical, he's got a nose for the ball. In my opinion he'll be a very, very good addition to our team. They hadn't had a lot of depth here at inside linebacker, so here's a guy that has started NFL games before and played a lot. In our minds he's an excellent get."

Dolphins HC Tony Sparano is already counting on Dobbins to be a core special teamer. The Dolphins also drafted Iowa ILB A.J. Edds in the fourth round and he is already expected to relieve Crowder of third-down pass coverage responsibilities. Edds had five interceptions last season and the Dolphins were repeatedly torched by opposing tight ends.